At 01:41 +0100 30-06-98, Robin Barclay wrote:
> They (the normally "non-pathogenic") become pathogenic when they (or their
> products) translocate across the gut wall - e.g. endotoxins in septic shock
But my point is, how does the immune system recognise what should be seen
as non-self (or danger), and what should not. Translocation of endotoxins
across the gut wall is well documented and easy to understand, but I am
more interested in how milk proteins, for example, are not regarded as a
serious threat in a newborn child, despite the overwhelming quantities
that are consumed. The milk proteins could not have been presented as
self during T cell selection in the thymus.